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Looking at this, it seems that when the word 何 is used with the で particle, it roughly translates into "by means of what" or "in what context." Personally, that sounds like asking "how". Is this assumption correct? Or can it change based on situation? Also, would it be appropriate to add の/ん だ/です to the end of sentences that use this combination (since it seems that an explanation is being asked.)

Would a sentence like this be correct?:
何で医者になったの？
(How did you become a doctor?)

5 Answers
5

I agree overall with the other three answers, but I feel there is a difference depending on how it is read.

[何]{なん}で 'why'

[何]{なに}で 'by what'

Therefore, 何で医者になったの has different meanings depending on how it is read.

[何]{なん}で医者になったの
'Why did you become a doctor?'

[何]{なに}で医者になったの
'By what did you become a doctor?'
Possible answer: [Supposing (counterfactually) that there are several other routes for becoming a doctor] 医師国家試験で 'By passing the medical license test'

Short answer: no. From your link: "It is also written as 「何で」 but it is read as 「なんで」. This is a completely separate word and has nothing to do with the 「で」 particle."

Long answer: "何で" can be translated as "how," but a more accurate translation would be "by means of what object"? So from the link you posted, "何できた？" is correct, because it is asking "By means of what object (bus, train, bike, etc.) did you come?"

But one does not become a doctor by means of an object; one becomes a doctor by taking an action. So as Ali said, a better way to ask this question would be "どうやって": "What did you do to become a doctor?"

From my experience, なんで can be used as how, but it is context dependent and can lead to confusion.
Native speaker: だんで帰る？
Me: ?? Uh, because it's late... Oh wait, you mean "how am I getting home?" Gotcha. By car.